brogan



Patented July 5, 1921. 1

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

M. F. BROGAN.

LAST PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mu) SEPT. 24. m 7.

Patented July 5, 1921.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 M. F. BROGAN.

LAST PULLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1917.

1,383,284. Patented July 5,1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL. F. BROGAN, 0F LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO UNITED SHOE llIACI-IINERY CORPORATION, OF EATER SON, NEWJERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LAST-PULLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921.

Application filed SeptemberM, 1917. Serial No. 192,954.

of Massachusetts, have invented'certain Im-- provements in Last-PullingMachines, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters onthe drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. V

This invention relates to machines for separating shoes and their lasts.The invention is herein shown as embodied in a machine of the generaltype described and illustrated in United States Letters Patent, No.1,203,571, granted Nov. 7, 1916, upon the application of John M.Benjamin.

As previously constructed, last pulling machines of the described typehave included a spring cooperating with the last pulling mechanism andarranged to be tensioned responsivcly to the resistance offered by thecounter portion of the shoe to lengthwise heelward thrust of the lastduring the early stages of relative vertical movement of the last heeland shoe counter to clear each other partially to relieve the lengthwiseheelward thrust of the last and subsequently effective to impel the lastlengthwise of the shoe when the bottom of the last heel clears the topof the shoe counter. This spring has been of sufiicient power to impelthe last rearwardly with sulhcient force to overcome the resistanceoffered by the back stay of a high. shoe but with some shoes of lightconstruction the strength of the spring has been.

such that during said early stage of last and shoe separation it failedto yield sufliciently to relieve the lengthwise heelward pressure of thelast against the end of the counter with the result that the back seamsof shoes were occasionally broken out.

A feature of the present invention consists in the combination with shoeand last separating mechanism organized for relative movement of shoeholding and last holding means to effect relative separating movement ofthe last and shoe, including relative lengthwise movement of the lastandshoe, effective to cause relative lengthwise thrust of a last heel andshoe counter during the early stage of separation, of auxiliary meanscooperating with the shoe and last separating mechanism and effective toreduce said relative lengthwise thrust of the last and shoe andsubsequently effective to. increase lengthwise relative thrust torelieve strain upon the forepart of the shoe upper. This augmentedlengthwise thrust may be, and preferably is, utilized torelieve thestrain on the throat of the vamp at the point in the last pullingoperation when the greatest strain would otherwise be placed upon it bythe last, and is effective subsequently to accelerate the movement ofthe last lengthwise rearwardly as soon as the last heel clears the shoecounter. The reduction of said lengthwise thrust during the initialportion of the last pulling operation enables the last heel to bestarted without imposing too much lengthwise thrust against the counterportion of the shoe so that the last heel can begin to move. downwardlyout of the shoe along the line defined by the inside contour of the shoeend, withoutinjuriously straining the back seam.

In the use of machines of this type, it has also been found that inpulling the lasts from tightly lasted shoes having thin upper stock, thepull of the last heel will, in some cases, pull the counter portion ofthe shoe slightly relatively to the grippers between which it is clampedwith yielding pressure, causing the counter grippers to form slightwrinkles in the thin upper stock adjacent tothe rand crease.

My present invention provides,among other 'leatures, means arranged togrip the shoe heel unyieldingly to oppose relative lengthwise andvertical. movement of the shoe. The positive stop formed by the heelgripping means will, obviously, prevent wrinkleforming movement of theshoe relatively to its counter grippers. gripping means, in the specificembodiment selected for illustration, is additionally novelv andadvantageous, for example, in that it provides a unitary structurecomprising rigidly connected heel gripping means to engage oppositesides of a shoe-heel and a heel height gage; and also adjustment meansby which the position of the grippers and gage may be varied fordifferent styles ofshoes and heels. The gage and grippers are arrangedin determinate relatlon and have the function, also, of shoe positioningmeans since they determine the vertical and longitudinal position'of theheel end of the shoe.

While machines of the described type as previously constructed have beenvery successful in factory use, it has been found that the clampingpressure of the counter grippers against the shoe subsequently to thewithdrawal of the heel end of the last has, in a few cases, beensufficient to bend in and crush the counter. In order that the machinemaybe better adapted for all classes of work, this clamping pressureshould be susceptible of determinate variation to suit the requirementsof different classes of shoes.

. A further feature of the invention consists in means for determinatelyvarying the extent of shoe gripping movement which may be imparted toopposed members relatively movable to grip a shoe. This is effectedthrough manually controlled means arranged positively. to limit theextent of clamping movement of a common actuator for said opposedmembers. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment of this feature ofthe invention, the adjustment means has a relatively wide range, andsince the movement-limiting stop constituting said means has threadedadjustment, it will be evident that the shoe clamping movement of saidactuator may be minutely varied. Ad-

' ditionally, this adjustment means is arranged and positioned to bereadily accessible to the operator and is quickly and easilymanipulated.

In the use of machines of the illustrated I type as previouslyconstructed, it has been found also that there are exceptional caseswhere the last sticksas when tacks driven through the insole into thelast have not been removed or when the shoe is of very abnormal shapesothat there is danger of breaking out the shoe if the separation of thelast and shoe by the machine is completed or persisted in. Damage tosuch shoes can only be prevented by releasing the shoe from its holdingmeans as soon as it becomes apparent to the operator that the last beingpulled is sticking.

A further feature of the invention consists in a novel construction andarrangement for permitting the shoe and last manually to be withdrawnfrom said gripping means by the operator during the period of separationof the last and shoe. By using only counter grippers and heel grippers,

such' as previously described and by adjusting the clamping pressure ofthe counter grippers approximately by the minimum pressure required tohold the class of shoes being operated upon, it is possible for the assoon as it becomes evident that the last is sticking. The shoe thustreated may have its last subsequently removed without serious damage tothe shoe by gradually easing the last out of the shoe by hand, anoperation which will not impose such heavy strain on the shoe upper asto cause it to be broken out.

As an additional feature of the invention, I have provided novelmechanism operative prior to the relative last and shoe separatingmovement to pull lengthwise rearwardly the back stay portion of the topof a shoe to afford clearance for the last heel so as to insureclearance between the back stay and the metal plate on the bottom of thelast heel which is sometimes inaccurately positioned and projectsslightly beyond the heel end. This mechanism, in the illustrativeembodiment, is arranged to effect-this operation automatically and intimed relation to the shoe and last separation. Preferably, and asillustrated, it is effected coincidently with the clamping of the shoeand prior to and independently of the last and shoe separating movement.I

The invention includes, as a further fea 'ture, grippers mounted toengage opposite sides of the shoe which are constructed and arranged foradjustment to present their opposed gripping faces in determinate angular relation converging rearwardly of the shoe. In the illustratedembodiment means are provided for adjusting said grippers to vary theirangle of convergence to suit the requirements of different types ofshoes. The grippers are also mounted for yielding movement transverselyof the shoe and are arranged yieldingly to engage the opposite sides ofthe shoe counter to clamp the shoe between them. The provision foryielding movement enables one adjustment of the counter grippers toaccommodate a relatively wide range of shoes of a given style, and theadjustment means provided are of such char acter that the angle ofconvergence may be quickly and easily changed by the operator.

The described and other features and advantages of the invention will bemore fully understood from the following description. in connection withaccompanying drawings which show an illustrative embodiment of theinvention and will-then be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation of a machine of thedescribed type embodying the features of the present inven tion, part ofthe frame being broken away to disclose interior mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the last holding, shoegripping and upper pulling mechanisms;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the counter grippers; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation lli) showing the heel grippersand upper pulling device in cooperative relation to a shoe.

For convenience, the illustrative machine, except as to the novelfeatures of the present invention, corresponds substantially to themachine described and illustrated in the Benjamin patent previouslyreferred to, and corresponding parts are identified by similar referencecharacters. For the purposes of the present specification, a descriptionin detail of the construction and operation of illustrated mechanismcorresponding to that of the Benjamin patent is unnecessary sincereference may be had to the description of the correspondingly numberedparts in said patent.

Briefly, the illustrated machine comprises a heavy upright column 2designed to stand on a floor or other support and having bearings for apower shaft 4 driven through a clutch member 8 when engaged with acontinuously rotating pulley 6 loose on said shaft. The clutch is thrownin by depressing a treadle 22 which through associated parts causes aconnected cam shaft to be turned through a half revolution (representingone cycle of the machine) and automatically stops the shaft at the endof said half revolution. The cycle of operations is repeated by againdepressing treadle 22.

Rotation of shaft 4, through certain worm gearing 40, 42, turns the cam36 on cam shaft 38 through a half revolution. Rotation of the cam 36through this half revolution first acts to clamp a positioned shoebetween certain shoe gripping means, and then is effective to pull thelast from the gripped shoe by certain mechanism operatively connectedwith means to engage the last in the gripped shoe.

The shoe gripping means are supported in a head on the top of themachine column, this head comprising a base 71 suitably bolted to thetop of the column and having outwardly diverging arms 73 terminating inopposed. bearings 7 7. The base plate 7 1 is provided with a housing 711in which is guided for movement toward and from the front of V themachine a plunger 7 2 having its forward end rigidly connected with agripper operating cross bar 74 and normally pulled rearwardly in adirection to hold the grippers in retracted position by meansof coiledsprings 70. The rear end of the plunger 72 terminates adjacent to theupper end of a bell crank lever 68 journaled in the column at 66 tive tomaintain the grippers closed upon the shoe until just before thecompletion of the cycle, when the grippers are released.

The means for gripping the shoe, according to the present invention,comprises opposed members relatively movable to grip riers 56 sliding inthe bearings 77 Stems extend lengthwise through the carriers 56 andbearings 77 and are provided with abutment washers between which and theinner ends of tension adjusting sleeves 93 threaded into the outer endsof the carriers, coiled springs 59 are interposed. These stems projectinwardly from the inner ends of the bearings 7 7 and carry opposedcounter gripping members of novel construction.

Each gripping member includes a base 87 rigidly secured to the inner endof one of said stems and having a curved seat to receive thecorrespondingly curved base of a holder 89 within which is seated a padof resilient gripping material, such as rubber. The inner faces of thesepads are arranged to engage opposite sides of the counter portion of ashoe positioned between them and may or may not be concaved bothvertically and longitudinally. Preferably, and as shown in Fig. 2, theirgripping faces extend in a straight line longitudinally of the shoe. Theholders 89 and their gripping pads are arranged for adjustment topresent rearwardly converging gripping faces between which the counterportion of the shoe is in serted. The angles of convergence of thesegripping members may be varied by adjusting the holders 89 upon thecurved seats of the bases 87, this adjustment means, in fact, permittingadjustment of the grippers independently and from a parallel relation toany desired angular relation. For this purpose the holders are provldedwith clamping bolts 91 extending outwardly through slots in their bases'87 and arranged independently to vary the angle of convergence of theirgripping members.

This arrangement of the gripping members enables them to have a yieldingwedging engagement with the counter portions of shoes when they areinserted between them, the springs 59 and the convergence of thegripping faces permitting one ad ustment of the gripping members toaccommodate a relatively wide range in sizes of shoe counters Thetension of the springs 59 may be adjusted, when desired, by the threadedsleeves. 93.-.tl1rough which the outer endsof the stems freely. slide.

. As previously stated, it is desirable, in

order to avoidcrushing in the counter after the heel ofthelastahasbeenpulled from within the counter portion of the shoe determinately, tocontrol and limit the clamping movement of. opposed gripping mem-...

sleeve 95. at the front of the frame .screw-. ing into an enlargement of.thevbore through which the gripper actuating plunger 72 is guided. Thissleeve is provided with an enlarged. head. locatedin the rear of thecross bar 7 1 which formsa common actu-, ator for the. opposedgrippingmembers.

The head of. this sleeve acts as a stop to limitthe extent to which the.cross bar 74 may ,be-pulled rearwardly by the springs 70, and to limittheextent tov which the cross.

bar 7 1 and the.connected gripping members may be moved bydetermlnatelyvarying the position of theend of theplunger 72 rela.-.- tively to theupper end of thecam actuated bell crank lever 68.- This adjustingmember, it willbenoted, is positionedand arranged for quickadjustment bythe operator and because of itsthreaded engagementwith the. frame, issusceptible .ofv relatively minute I variations in adjustment.

Cotiperating with the counter gripping members are certain heelvgrippingineansof novel. construction. arranged unyieldingly to hold theshoe against movementduring the pulling .of. the .last. A bracket 138.is

adjustably secured ,to the. plate 71 .at the frontof the machineandextendsmpwardly forming a vertical bearing 135, andthenceextends.outwardly. over the position. occu-.

pied by the heel of. a,,shoe.. engaged between the counter grippers.From its for ward endrearwardly this extension is slota ted-to receivethe upper end of a threaded The lower end of. this stemnis flattened andembraced between bifurcations 139 upstandingfrom a heel engaging mem-.

stem. 137.

her which is of integral construction .andis rigidly secured to thelower end of the stem. by suitable fastening means. This member isformed to provide a horizontally extending portion 141 arranged toengage. over the top lift of a shoe heel and forminga heel height gage,and with'a rearwardly offset dependlng portlon terminating at its lowerend. in outwardly diverging arms 143 providing a substantially V-shapedgripping member. These.arms are adapted to, have wedging engagement withopposite sides of a shoe heel unyieldingly to. opposelengthwise.rearward and downward movement of a shoe .gripped thereby.The heel height;

gage member 1 11 isin determinate relation to-these gripplng arms and incomb nation these parts act as positioning meansfor. the

shoe, since they determine the position of the The threaded stemheel endof .theshoe. carrying. this heel gripping member is provided withsuitable clamping jury to .theupper materials vofthe shoe and,

to prevent marring of thefinish of the shoe,

theheel height gage andthe side gripping,

nuts, .and: is. adjustable verticallyfor different arms are covered withleather-or other suit:

ablematerial.

The last, within the shoe which is positioned between the countergripping, means to be swung upwardlyv by theoperatorto position, theshoefor cooperation with the heel gripping and. counter grippingmeans,and.

is operated. through the carnj 36 subsequently to shoe grippingmovement. of. the ,counter grippers. to .pull the lastfrom the grippedshoe... Theinner end of the carrier arm, 1 14 .is pivotedto the upperarm 14c6v of a bell crank ,lever which is pivoted to. theupper end of aplunger 150 positioned rearwardly. of the heel end. of agrippedshoe. The

lower end ofthe plunger isattached to the front end of a link 166arranged to. be swung downwardly through a thrust bar. ,172 op-.

erated from. the cam wheel 36, as described in the Benjamin patentreferred to. the position of the plunger rearwardlyi oftheheel end ofthe .shoeand the connectionsto carrier arm 14A causing the heel end ofthe last to exert lengthwise thrust against the. shoe counter as theplunger and last are moved downwardly. A red 15 1 is pivoted at. itsupperend to the forward end. of the arm 152 of the bell crank lever andhas its lower end extending through ,a bore .in a bracket 155extendingfrom and carried by theplunger 150. The rod.15,4= has. sleevedupon. ittwo coiled spring sections of unequal length and strength. Theupper and longer spring section 157 is sleeved on-the rod 154, betweenthe bell crank lever arm. 152, and the upper and closed end of a cuppedsleeve 156. The lower, shorter and weaker spring section 158 is sleevedon the rod between the bracket 155 and the sleeve 156, and extendswithin the cupped portion of the sleeve. In the normal position of theparts the lower edge of the cupped sleeve is spaced from the bracket, sothat upon downward movement of the plunger 150, the resistance offeredby the heel end of the shoe to the lengthwise thrust of the last willreact against arm 146 of the bell crank lever and will swing downwardlythe arm 152 against the tension of the weaker spring 158 which permits aquickreduction of the lengthwise thrust :of the last heel against theshoe counter during the initial stageof separation and until the loweredge of the cupped sleeve 156 engages the bracket; thereafter duringfurther downward movement of theplunger 150, continued resistance by theend of the shoe to lengthwise thrust of the last heel will continue toreact against arm 152 and i will compress the stronger spring section157 between the bell crank and the upper end of the cupped sleeve untilthe last heel clears the shoe counter, this spring oilering relativelygreater re-' sistance and serving, when compressed, .to augment thelengthwise thrust of the last heel, thereby relieving the strain againstthe forepart of the upper. and subsequently after the last heel clearsthe shoe counter, serving to accelerate the lengthwise move ment of thelast.

As previously stated, I have provided means for pulling lengthwiserearwardly the back stay portion of the top of a shoe, con.- venientlyillustrated as a high shoe, to a1.- ford clearance between-the extremityof the heel of the last and the inside of the shoe top during relativeseparating movement of the shoe and last. The embodiment of this meansselected .for illustration comprises a support 145 having an upstandingstem 14? detachably and adjustably supported in the vertical bearing 135of bracket 133. The lower end of this support is bifurcated to formlaterally spaced ears between which is pivotally mounted the upper. endof a cylindrical horn holder 149 having an upstanding finger extension151 positioned forwardly of the gripper-operating cross bar 74'. Thealined front edge of the cross bar is preferably rounded for slidingcontact with said finger, as best seen in Fig. 4.

The holder 149 is formed with a socket in which is seated a hollow plug153 having a coiled spring seated therein with one end abutting theclosed upper end of the plug and the other end anchored to an abutmentpin extending transversely through alined. bores in the holder 149 andthrough radially alined elongated slots in the sides of the plug 153.The lower end of the plug is notched to receive and hold the rear end155 of a bowed, upwardly curving. spring blade, the forward and upperportion of which is flared laterally and curved forming a hornmember1'63. This member is arranged to engage the inside back stayportion of the top of the illustrated high shoe and is normally held inraised position. by the coiled spring acting against the plug153 but maybe pulled momentarily downward by hand if necessary to positionthe hornso as to clear the top edge of the shoe which is being swung upwardlyand backwardly by the operator into cotiperative relation to the countergrippers. A. coiled spring 159 com nects the finger 151 to an arm 161-rigidly connected to and extending rearwardly from support 145, andserves to maintain the lfinger in engagement with the front edge of thecross bar 7 4 in all positions of the bar.

In the inoperative position of the machine with the cross bar 74retracted by its springs to engage the stop 95, the horn is swungupwardly and forwardly byspring 159 to a position to coiiperate with thetop of a high shoe which is being positioned between the countergrippers. If necessary, the operator may pull the horn downwardlyagainst the tension of the. plug spring to afl'ord clearance for the topedge of the shoe, the subsequent release of the hornpositioning the topedge of the shoe between the arms of the substantially U -'shaped memberformed by the spring horn blade and its holder. When the treadle isoperated to start the machine, the forward movement of cross bar 74moves the counter gr pp into clamping engagement with the shoe andcoincidently moves the finger 151 to swing the horn 163 lengthwiserearwardly of .the shoe, stretching the back stay portion of thetop ofthe shoe lengthwiserearwardly. to pro-' vide clearance between theextremity; of:thel lastheel and this portion of the shoe top when thelast is subsequently pulled from the shoe in the continued operationaofthe machine. The horn with its holder andsupaort may be adjusted for usewith either high or low shoes. As shown in Fig. 4, it is arranged foroperation upon the top of a high shoe'but it will be evident that, bybodily adjustment upwardly, it maybe p0- sitioned to cooperate with thecounter portion or" low shoes.

In operating upon a shoe-and its last (it being assumed thatthe countergrippers have been adjusted to the appropriate angle for theclassofshoes to be operated upon and that the heel positioning means and stop95 have been similarly. adjusted), the workman mounts the last on thelast pin 142 and swings the carrier 144 upwardly to engage the heel ofthe shoe with the height gage 141 and side gripping arms 143, with thecounterxportion of the shoe positioned be: tween the counter grippers.If a high shoe is being operated upon the top is inserted in rear of thehorn 163 as seen in Fig. 4. The machine is started when t-he shoehasbeen properly positioned, the counter grips? pers and the hornbeingfirst operated, as previously described, to clamp the shoe and tostretch the back stay portion of the shoe top, and the plunger 150, bellcrank lever 146 and carrier 144 are Subsequently pulled downwardly inthe continued operation of the machine, changing their relativepositions and lines of pull in response to the resistance offered toseparation by the shoe so as to impose minimum strain on the shoe parts.WVhen the bottom of the last heel clears the counter portion of theshoe, the spring 158 which has been compressed in pulling the last fromthe shoe, exerts additional lengthwise thrust against the last which isof substantial assistance in overcoming the resistance offered by thetop of a high shoe and substantially increases the speed of separation.Since the lengthwise rearward movement of the last under the influenceof the compressed spring has a very substantial component of verticallydownward movement, the .horn will ordinarily be cleared by thediagonally down- Ward and rearwardly moving last, or if it should be inthe path of movement of'the last, is swung rearwardly by contact withthe last out of said path of movement against the tension of the coiledspring 159.

At the beginning of the pulling operation, if the last for any reasonshould stick, the operator, who should temporarily retain his hold onthe handle of the last carrier, may quickly pull the carrier with thelast and shoe forwardly away from the counter and heel grippers, turningthe bell crank lever against the tension of springs 15T158. This ispermissible because the forwardly diverging faces of the heel andcounter grippers offer practically no resistance to this movementalthough opposing rearward and downward movement in the normal operationof the machine by reason of their wedging engage ment with the shoewhich is increased rather than diminished by the lengthwise rearwardthrust of the last against the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine of theclass described, having, in combination, a shoe holder, a last holder,mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holder and said last holder toeffect relative movement of a last and its shoe, to separate said lastand shoe, and auxiliary means cooperating with said mechanism effectiveto cause lengthwise relative thrust of the last heel and shoe counterand subsequently effective to augment said lengthwise relative thrust tore lieve strain upon the forepart of the shoe upper.

2. A machine of the. class described, having, in combination, a shoeholder, a last holder, mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holderand said last holder to effect relative movement of a last and its shoe,including relative lengthwise movement to separate said last and shoe,and auxiliary means cooperating with said mechanism effective to augmentthe lengthwise relative thrust of the last heel and shoe counter at apoint in the last and shoe separating movement subsequent to theinitiation of said movement and prior to the point when the bottom ofthe last heel clears the top of the shoe counter.

3. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a shoeholder, a last holder, mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holderand said last, holder to effect relative movement of a last and itsshoe, including relative lengthwise movement, to separate said last andshoe, and auxiliary means cooperating with said mechanism effective tocause lengthwise relative thrust of the last heel and shoe counter andsubsequently effective to augment said lengthwise relative thrust torelieve strain upon the forepart of the shoe upper, said means beingthereafter operative to accelerate the relative lengthwise movement ofthe shoe and last when the bottom of the last heel and the top of theshoe counter have cleared each other.

4. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a shoeholder, a last holding spindle, mechanism for relatively moving saidholder and said spindle'to effect relative movement of a last and itsshoe, to separate the shoe and last, and successively operativeauxiliary means cooperating with said mechanism and effective, first, tocause relative lengthwise thrust of the last heel and shoe counter andthen to augment said relative lengthwise thrust of the last heel andshoe counter prior to the point when the bottom of the last heel clearsthe shoe counter.

5. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a shoeholder, a last holding spindle, mechanism for relatively moving saidholder and said spindle to effect relative movement of a last and itsshoe, including relative lengthwise movement, to separate the shoe andlast, and successively operative auxiliary means cooperating with saidmechanism and effective, first to cause relative lengthwise thrust ofthe last heel and shoe counter and then to augment said relativelengthwise thrust of the last heel and shoe counter prior to the pointwhen the bottom of the last heel clears the'shoe counter andsubsequently to accelerate said relative lengthwise movement after thebottom of the last heel clears the top, of the shoe counter.

6. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, shoegripping means, a lastholder, mechanism for moving the top of the shoecounter--to augment said lengthwise thrust of the last heel to relievestrain against the forepart of the shoe upper."

7. A machine of the class described, "hav 'ing, in combination, a shoe*holder, a last holding spindle, mechanism" for "relatively" moving saidholder and said spindle-toefiect' relative movement of a last and itsshoe to separate the last and shoe, and dilterentially powered andsuccessively operative auxiliary spring means cooperating with saidmechanism andefiective, first to yield to cause lengthwise relativethrust of the'last heel and shoe counter responsively to theresistanceoifered .by the shoe counter to said thrust, and then tointerpose increased resistance effective to augment the lengthwiserelative thrust to relieve strain against the forepart of the shoeupper.

8; A machine of theclassdescribed having, in combination, shoe holdingmeans, last holding means, mechanism for'moving the last holding meansto pullthe'last from the shoe in agenerally diagonal direction having'one component lengthwise heelwa'rd of the shoe, and a plurality ofdifferentiallypowered springs 'auXiliar to saidmecha- *nism andcooperating wit the last holding means, including a relatively weakspring arranged to yield responsively to the resistance offered by theshoe counter to lengthwise thrust of the last heel during the initialstage of last pulling movement 'tocause lengthwise heelward thrust ofthelast heel against the shoe counter and a relatively strong springsubsequently operative to increase the lengthwise heelward thrust.

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shoeholder, a last holding spindle, mechanism for relatively moving saidholder and said spindle to effect relative movement of a last and shoe,includ during the initial stage of last and shoe separation to causelengthwise strain against the counter portion of the shoe, and arelatively stronger spring means subsequently effective to increase thelengthwise strain against the counter portionof the shoe and toaccelerate said relative lengthwise movesaid sleeve.

ment after the bottom of the last heel and the top of the shoe counterclear each other. 10. A last pulling machine having, in combination,shoe holding means and last removing means comprising a plunger movablealong a line substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shoebottom and rearwardly of the shoe, a bell crank lever carried by saidplunger, a forwardly'extending last carrier pivoted to'one end or'saidbell crank lever, and two springs acting against the other end ofsaidlever, one'of said springs being weaker than the'other and beingarranged for compression by the bell crank lever prior to compression ofthe stronger spring.

11. In a last pulling machine, a last holding spindle, a carrier forsaid spindle, a supporting member for sald'carrier plvoted for swingingmovement, and two springs acting against said member and yieldinglyopposing swinging movement of said member in one direction, 'one of saidsprings being weaker thangthe other and being arranged for compressionprior to compression of the relatively stronger, spring.

I 121A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means,and last removing means comprising aplunger, a bell crank leverfulc'rumed on the plunger, a last carrierpivoted to one 'arm'of the bellcrank lever, a'last holder on said carrier, a rod pivoted to the otherarm of said bell crank leverand guided in a bracket carried by saidplunger, and two concentric, successivelyr ompressible' spring sectionsmounted on said rod between said bell crank lever and said bracket.

" 13. A last pulling machine having, in com bin ation','shoeholdingmeans, andlast removing means comprising a plunger, a bell cranklever fu'lcrumed on' the plunger, a last carrier' pivoted to one arm ofthe bell crank lever, a lastholder on said'carrier, a'rod pivoted to theother arm of said'bell crank lever and guided in a bracket carried bysaid lun' 'er a cu oed sleeve on said rod' with its loweredge above thebracket, an'elongated coiled spring on said rod between said sleeveandthe 'bell crank lever, and ai 'shorterand weaker spring on said rodbetween-said bracket and sleeve and extending within 14". In a machinetor effecting the separation of a shoe and its last, last holding means,shoe holding means and mechanism for relatively moving said holdingmeans to separate said shoe and its last, said shoe holding meanscomprising rigid means arranged to grip opposite sides of the heel ofthe shoe and unyieldingly to oppose lengthwise and vertical movement ofthe shoerelatively to said means;

15. A last pulling machine having, in combination with last holdingmeans'and shoe wedging engagement with opposite sides of the heel of theshoe and constructed unyieldingly to oppose lengthwise and verticalmovement of the shoe relatively to said wedging means, and mechanism foreffecting relative movement between said last holding means and the shoeholding means to effect separation of the shoe and its last.

17. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, meansto engage opposite sides of the counter portion of a shoe with yieldingclamping pressure, in combination with means arranged to grip the heeland unyieldingly to oppose relative lengthwise and vertical movement ofthe shoe.

18. In a machine for pulling the last from a shoe while the shoe isgripped and held for the pulling of the last, last holding means movableto pull the last from a gripped shoe and mechanism for moving the lastholding means to pull the last, and shoe gripping means comprising meansto engage opposite sides of the counter portion of a shoe with yieldingclamping pressure and means rigidly to engage the heel unyieldingly tooppose relative lengthwise and vertical movement of the shoe.

19. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, meansto engage opposite sides of the counter portion of a shoe with yieldingclamping pressure and means arranged for wedging engagement withopposite sides of the heel unyieldingly to oppose relative lengthwiseand vertical movement of the shoe.

20. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, meansto engage and hold the heel of the shoe against relative movementcomprising rigidly connected members ar ranged for wedging engagementwith opposite sides of the heel, and a gage member in,

determinate relation thereto and arranged to engage the face of-the toplift of the heel.

21. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, aunitary construction comprisgagement with opposite sides of the heel ofthe shoe unyieldingly to oppose relative lengthwise and verticalmovement of the shoe, and a rigidly connected heel height gage indeterminate relation thereto arranged to engage the face of the top liftof the heel.

23. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, heelpositioning and holding means comprising a rigid bifurcated memberarranged to have wedging engagement with opposite sides of the heel andan integrally connected heel height gage arranged to engage the face ofthe top lift of the heel.

24:. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative move ment of last holding means and shoe gripping means,opposed members relatively movable to grip a shoe, and means for determinately varying the amount of shoe gripping movement which may beimparted to said members.

25. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedmembers connected for relative and simultaneous movement to cause theshoe on a last to be gripped at opposite sides of the last, mechanismfor effecting shoe gripping movement of said members, and manuallyadjustable means determinately to vary the amount of gripping movementof said members effected through said mechanism.

26. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedmembers connected for relative movement to cause the shoe on a last tobe gripped at opposite sides of the last, mechanism for effecting shoegripping movement of said members, and means positioned and arranged foradjustment by the operator determinately to vary the amount of shoegripping movement imparted to said members through said mechanism.

27. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe grip ping means,opposed members connected for relative and simultaneous movement towardCir opposite sides of a shoe to grip the shoe between them, mechanismfor effecting shoe gripping movement of said members, and a stop memberpositioned and arranged for manual adjustment by the operatordeterminately to limit the amount of shoe gripping movement imparted tosaid opposed members through said mechanism.

28. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means,clamping members arranged for relative movement toward the oppositesides of a shoe to clamp the shoe, a common actuator for said membersmovable to actuate said members relatively to each other to clamp theshoe, mechanism for effecting movement of said actuator and adjustmentmeans to vary the amount of movement of said actuator.

29. I11 a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedmembers connected for relative movement to clamp a shoe and having acommon actuator, mechanism for moving said actuator in a direction tomove said members to clamp the shoe, and manually adjustable meansarranged determinately to vary the extent of said mechanically effectedmovement of the actuator determinately to vary the amount of clampingmovement of said members.

30. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe holding means, opposedmembers connected for relative movement toward opposite sides of a shoeto clamp the shoe and having a common actuator, mechanism for movingsaid actuator in a direction to effect clamping of the shoe, andmanually adjustable means determinately to vary the amount of shoeclamping movement effected through said actuator.

31. In a machine for effecting the sepa ation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedmembers relatively movable to clamp a ,shoe, mechanism for causingrelative shoe clamping movement of said opposed members including acommon actuator for said members, and manually adjustable meansdeterminately to limit the shoe clamping movement of said actuatoreffected through said mechanism.

32. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedmembers connected for relative and simultaneous movement to effect theclamping of the counter portion of ashoe between them, mechanism foreffecting counter clamping movement of said members, and meanspositioned and arranged for manual adjustment by the operatordeterminately to vary the amount of counter clamping movement of saidmembers effected through said mechanism.

33. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedmembers connected for relative and simultaneous movement to clamp a shoebetween themand having a common actuator, mechanism for moving saidactuator in a direction to effect shoe clamping movement of saidmembers, and a stop member positioned and arranged for manual adjustmentby the operator determinately to limit the amount of shoe clamping ofsaid actuator effected through said mechanism.

3%. In a machine for effecting the separa tion of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedmembers relatively movable to clamp a shoe between them, power operatedmechanism for causing relative shoe clamping movement of said membersincluding a common actuator for said members, and manually adjustablemeans for determinately varying the amount of shoe clamping movement ofsaid actuator effected by said power operated mechanism.

35. In a machine for pulling a last from its shoe by movement of lastholding means relative to shoe gripping means, opposed membersrelatively and simultaneously movable toward opposite sides of a shoe togrip a shoe between them, power operated mechanism for causing relativeshoe clamping movement of said members including a common actuator forsaid members, power operated mechanism for pulling the last from thegripped shoe, and means positioned and arranged for manual adjustment bythe operator determinately to vary the amount of power operated shoeclamping movement of said actuator.

36. A machine of the class described having, in combination, lastholding means, opposed members connected for relative and siu'mltaneousmovement to grip the counter portion of a shoe between them and having acommon actuator, mechanism for effecting counter gripping movement ofsaid actuator, manually adjustable means for determinately varying theamount of counter gripping movement of said actuator effected throughsaid mechanism, and mechanism for effecting relative movement of saidlast hold ing means and said shoe gripping means to separate a shoe andits last.

87. A machine of the class described having, in combination, lastholding means, opposed counter gripping members mounted for movementtoward opposite sides of a shoe to grip the counter portion of the shoebetween them, connections between said members to cause themsimultaneously to move toward the shoe including a common actuator,mechanism operative to effect shoe gripping movement of said actuator,means positioned and arranged for adjustment by the operatordeterminately to limit the amount of gripping movement of said members,and mechanism for effecting relative movement of said last holding meansand said shoe gripping means to separate a gripped shoe and its last.

38. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedmembers connected for relative and simultaneous movement to cause theshoe on a last to be gripped between them, mechanism for effectingrelative shoe gripping movement of said members, and a threaded stopcooperating with said mechanism and positioned and ar- -anged foradjustment by the operator determinately to limit the amount of shoeclamping movement imparted to said members through said mechanism.

39. A machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means havingopposed shoe grippers movable to engage and hold the shoe between themfor last and shoe separation and constructed and arranged to permit theshoe and last manually to be pulled from between said grippers by theoperator during the period of separation and without moving the grippersto release the shoe.

4:0. A machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its lasthaving, in combination, last holding means and shoe counter and heelgrippers relatively movable to separate a last and shoe, said grippersbeing effective to hold the shoe for the pulling of the last and beingconstructed and arranged to permit the shoe and last manually to bewithdrawn from said grippers by the operator during the pulling of thelast from the shoe.

ell. A machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its lasthaving, in combination, last holding means, shoe grippers and poweroperated mechanism for relatively moving said last holding means andshoe grippers to separate a last and shoe, said grippers being effectiveto hold the shoe for last and shoe separation and being constructed andarranged to permit the shoe and last manu ally to be pulled from saidgrippers during the period of separation and without moving the grippersto release the shoe.

42. A machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last bymovement of last holding means relative to shoe gripping meanscomprising grippers yieldingly to clamp the counter portion of the shoeand last between them and rigid shoe heel gripping means unyieldinglyopposing relative lengthwise rearward movement of the shoe, said contourand heel gripping means being constructed to permit manual withdrawal ofthe gripped shoe and last from said gripping means during the pulling ofthe last from the shoe.

43. A machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its lasthaving, in combination, last holding mean mounted for swinging andbodily movement downwardly to pull a last from a gripped shoe, and shoegripping means effective to hold the shoe for the removal of the lastand comprising means yieldingly to grip the counter portion of the shoeand last and rigid heel abutment means unyieldingly to oppose relativelengthwise rearward and downward movement of the shoe, said shoegripping means being constructed-to permit forcible bodily withdrawal ofthe shoe and last forwardly and downwardly during the pulling of thelast from the shoe.

44. In a machine for effecting the coinplete separation of a shoe andits last the combination with shoe gripping means, last holding means,and mechanism for effecting relative movement of said means to separatea. shoe and its last, of mechanism operative prior to said relativeseparating movement to pull lengthwise rearwardly the back-stay portionof the top of a shoe.

In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last thecombination with shoe gripping means, last holding means, and mechanismfor effecting relative movement of said means to separate a shoe and itslast, of a member arranged to be po sitioned inside the top of a shoe toengage the backstay portion of the shoe top and means independent of thelast and shoe-separating mechanism to pull said member lengthwiserearwardly of the shoe.

&6. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last thecombination with shoe gripping means, last holding means, and poweroperated mechanism for effecting relative movement of said means toseparate a shoe and its last, of means operative independently of themechanism for effecting said relative separating movement to pullbackwardly lengthwise of the shoe the backstay portion of the top of ashoe.

47. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last thecombination with last holding means, shoe gripping means and poweroperated mechanism for effecting relative movement of said means toseparate a shoe and its last, of means operative independently of themechanism 'for effecting said relative separating movement to pullbackwardly lengthwise of the shoe the backstay portion of the top of ashoe in timed relation to and prior to said relative separatingmovement.

Cir

4L8. In a machine for effecting the com plete separation of a shoe andits last the combination with last holding means, shoe holdin means, andpower operated mechanism for effecting relative movement of said holdingmeans completely to separate a shoe and last, of a member constructedand positioned to engage the inside backstay portion of the top of ashoe, and mechanism arranged to move said member backwardly lengthwiseof the shoe in timed relation to the separation of the shoe and last.

4:9. in a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, meansarranged to be moved to grip the shoe, and means constructed andarranged to engage and pull baclm'ardly lengthwise of the shoe the backstay portion of the top of a shoe coincidently with the movement of saidshoe gripping means to grip the shoe.

50. in a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last bymovement of last holding means relative to shoe grip ping means to pullthe last from a gripped shoe. shoe gripping means movable to grip a shoeon its last, and mechanism cooper-at ing with said gripping means andoperated by movement of said means to pull lengthwise backwardly thebaclrstay portion of the top of a shoe.

51. In a n achine "for effecting the separation of a shoe and its lastby relative move-- ment of last holding means and shoe gripping means,opposed members relatively movable to grip the shoe between them,mechanism for effecting gripping movement of said members, and meansactuated through said'mechanism for pulling backwardly lengthwise of thelast the back stay portion of the top of a shoe to provide clearance forthe heel of the last.

In a machine for effecting the complete separation of a shoe and itslast the combination with last holding means, shoe gripping means, andmechanism for effecting relative movement of said means coml't-l y toseparate a shoe, and last, of a member to engage the inside backstayportion of the top of a shoe, and mechanism to pull said horn lengthwiserearwardly of the shoe prior to the separation of the shoe and last.

53. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last thecombination with shoe gripping means, last holding means, and mechanismfor effecting movement of the last holding means to pull the last fromthe shoe, of a horn member constructed and arranged to engage the insidebackstay portion of the top of a shoe and movable to stretch saidportion lengthwise rearwardly of the shoe to facilitate the pulling ofthe last heel from the shoe.

54. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last thecombination with shoe gripping means, last holding means, and mechanismfor effecting movement of the last holding means to pull the last fromits shoe, of a horn member constructed and positioned to engage theinside backstay portion of the top of a shoe, and mechanism foryieldingly pulling said horn member lengthwise rearwardly of the shoe toprovide clearance for the heel of the last.

55. In a machine for separating a shoe and its last the combination withlast holding means, shoe gripping means, and mechanism for moving saidholding means to pull the last from its shoe, of a substantiallyii-shaped member having one arm arranged to engage the inside of therear extremity of the top of a shoe and having its other arm supportetfor movement with the first arm lengthwise hcelward of the shoe.

In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last thecombination with last holding means, shoe gripping means and mechanismfor relatively moving said means to separate a shoe and its last, of asubstantially U-shaped member having one arm arranged to engage theinside of the rear extremity of the top of a shoe and having its otherarm supported for swinging movement with the first arm lengthwiserearwardly of the shoe and mechanism for effecting swinging movement ofsaid arms.

57. in a machine for separating a shoe and last by movement of lastholding means relatively to shoe gripping means to withdraw the last,shoe grippers movable to an a shoe. a horn arranged to engage the insidebackstay portion of the top of a shoe and supporteo for movementlengthwise heclward of the shoe, mechanism for operating said grippers,and means operated through said mechanism for moving said hornlengthwise heelward coincidently with shoe clamping movement of thegrippers.

58. in a, machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movementof last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedshoe gripping members constructed and arranged to be moved to and heldin positions to present their opposed shoe engaging faces inpredetermined angular relation converging rearwardly of the shoe.

in a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedshoe gripping members and holders in which said members are mounted andwhich are constructed and arranged for independent angular adjustment topresent the opposed shoe gripping faces of said members in determinateangular relation and deteiminately to vary said angular relation.

60. In a machine for efiecting the separation oi a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedshoe gripping members constructed and arranged for adjustment to presenttheir opposed shoe engaging faces in determinate angular relation,converging rcar ardly or the shoe and means yieldingly to hold saidgripping members in clamping engagement with opposite sides of a shoe.

(31. In a machine for cit cting the separation ot a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedshoe gripping members supported for strai ht line movement towardopposite sides oi. the shoe and having rearwardlv conve gi g shoeengaging adj usti said members defaces, means "for v terminately to varythe angle of convergence ot their tacos, and means yicldingly tomovesaid members into clamping engagement with opposite sides of theshoe.

(S2. in a machine for pulling lasts from shoes by movement of lastholding means relatively to a gripped shoe, shoe gripping meanscomprising opposed counter grippers mounted for relative movement towardopposite sides oi a shoe to grip its counter portion betvveen them, andconstructed and arranged for swinging adjustment to present theiropposed shoe gripping faces in determinate angular rearvvardlyconverging rela tion and determinatcly to vary the angular relation ofsaid faces.

65. In a machine for eitecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative. movement of last'holding means and shoe gripping means,opposed shoe gripping members supported for movement toward and fromopposite sides of the shoe and having rearwardly converging shoeengaging faces, each ot said members comprising a supported base havinga curved seat and a gripper element mounted upon and determinate yadjustable about said curved seat.

64:. in a machine for efl'ecting the separation of a shoe and its lastby relative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means.opposed shoe gripping mem bers having gripping faces extending in astraight line longitudinally of the shoe arranged for relative movementto grip opposite sides of the shoe to hold the shoe be tvieen them, saidgripping members being constructed and arranged for adjustment topresent their opposed gripping faces in angular relationconvergingrearwardly of the shoe.

($5. In a machine for effecting the separation of a shoe and its last byrelative movement of last holding means and shoe gripping means, opposedshoe gripping members constructed and arranged for relative bodilymovement to grip opposite sides of a shoe, and holders for said membersmounted for adjustment to move said members from a position with theirgripping faces in substantial parallelism into variable determinateangular relations to each other and to hold them in such determinaterelations.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MICHAEL F. BROGAN.

